Staircase rules specify how many correct trials precede a level decrease

Evidence

In the 2-down 1-up procedure, a listener must make a correct decision on two consecutive trials before the stimulus level is decreased. A single missed detection causes an increase in signal level. In contrast, three consecutive stimulus detections are required for a decrease in signal level in the 3-down 1-up procedure. In these procedures, threshold is determined by averaging the signal levels at the reversals, or the stimulus levels at which listeners’ responses Figure 2-15. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 320

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the 2-down 1-up and 3-down 1-up staircase rules and introduces the concept of reversals.